Diabetes and work.

[Bxox]

just want to know someone else’s opinion on something that happened recently at work and I’m not sure if I’m over reacting

Through the night my blood sugar had been low multiple times but as it came to waking up to work it leveled its self out so I went to work .
By time 10am hit at work after starting at 7:15 am I had 4 hypos so asked if I could go home due to my levels not being stable and it’s making me feel weak. My manger made me there and then show her my sugar levels through the morning and said “ I’m not saying ur lying or anything but I’m wondering if ur just saying this to go home keep your tester in the office and I’ll see how many times u check it before sending u home “ this really annoyed me as clearly she doesn’t trust me I have not been sent home sick from work in around 6 months and I’ve not rang in sick for nearly 2 years .

Not even 5 mins go by and I need to check my sugar levels again I’m 2.6 so I’m shaking nearly crying to my manager because I’ve had so many hypos I have no treatment left and feel like **** ( everyone knows how much a hypo takes all your energy and I work with children so it doesn’t help) . She tells me I’m being dramatic and to go to the shop and come back to work to finish my shift. I had a further 5 hypos before I finished and was still not able to go home .
I’m not sure what to do as I feel like she doesn’t take this as seriously as it is .

She was the same when I was in dka when I first started she didn’t send me home to which I then spent 2 weeks in hospital

 

[Antje77]

just want to know someone else’s opinion on something that happened recently at work and I’m not sure if I’m over reacting

Hi @Bxox , welcome to the forum.

You are definitely not overreacting, this is absolute unacceptable behaviour from your manager.

You might want to contact HR about this, but I don't know much about the rules in your country. Let me tag @KennyA , he may have some ideas on how to prevent a situation like this from happening again in the future.

A hypo is a medical emergency which needs to be treated right away. Having you walk to the shop for treatment while you were already at 2.6 could have easily ended in an ambulance.

I hope you feel better now too!

 

[Bxox]

Hi @Bxox , welcome to the forum.

You are definitely not overreacting, this is absolute unacceptable behaviour from your manager.

You might want to contact HR about this, but I don't know much about the rules in your country. Let me tag @KennyA , he may have some ideas on how to prevent a situation like this from happening again in the future.

A hypo is a medical emergency which needs to be treated right away. Having you walk to the shop for treatment while you were already at 2.6 could have easily ended in an ambulance.

I hope you feel better now too!

Thank you , I was thinking this but I feel like if I complain why I still work there it may make it awkward and she will be worse towards me instead of any better . It makes it worse that she has never allowed the time for me to create a care plan incase anything does happen . Thankfully by time I was at home and not running around my blood sugar didn’t go low again for a few days but it’s not the point is it.

 

[Antje77]

Thank you , I was thinking this but I feel like if I complain why I still work there it may make it awkward and she will be worse towards me instead of any better . It makes it worse that she has never allowed the time for me to create a care plan incase anything does happen .

According to your profile, you're in the UK.
This means you're legally covered for reasonable adjustments at work under the Equality Act 2010.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2019-10/EmploymentandDiabetes_A5_v7.pdf

Diabetes.org.uk also has a helpline.
If this had happened to me, I'd call them to ask what I could do in this case.

Diabetes UK Helpline

Get specialist information and advice on all aspects of living with diabetes. Call us for answers, support or just to talk to someone who knows about diabetes. What is the Diabetes UK Helpline? Our helpline number is 0345 123 2399. It is a dedicated diabetes helpline for all people with...

www.diabetes.org.uk

 

[KennyA]

Hi, I agree with what's been said above. Your employer will have a statement somewhere about Health and Safety for employees. I'd get hold of that and see what it says - it will probably be a standard set of statements. However the employer has a general duty of care towards employees which includes not putting any of them at risk. This is the sort of thing that matters. For example (when I had a job) and the aircon broke down, once the ambient temperature reached 24c (I think it was) I wsa obliged to tell staff that they could go home if they wished. Ih the heating failed in the winter there was a similar low temperature below which we couldn't require anyone to stay in the office.

Your situation is health-related, and being diabetes there is plenty of good advice on the DiabetesUK website. As you have a diagnosed medical condition, the "duty of care" element extends to making sure that you are not harmed. On the face of it what your employer (your manager is simply the agent of your employer) has done is very hard to square with the responsibility of an employer under UK legislation.

In short, I think what your manager is doing is in breach of the law, and whoever employs you both would come down hard on her for being in breach of the organisation's own H&S policy.

 

[steviec1]

just want to know someone else’s opinion on something that happened recently at work and I’m not sure if I’m over reacting

Through the night my blood sugar had been low multiple times but as it came to waking up to work it leveled its self out so I went to work .
By time 10am hit at work after starting at 7:15 am I had 4 hypos so asked if I could go home due to my levels not being stable and it’s making me feel weak. My manger made me there and then show her my sugar levels through the morning and said “ I’m not saying ur lying or anything but I’m wondering if ur just saying this to go home keep your tester in the office and I’ll see how many times u check it before sending u home “ this really annoyed me as clearly she doesn’t trust me I have not been sent home sick from work in around 6 months and I’ve not rang in sick for nearly 2 years .

Not even 5 mins go by and I need to check my sugar levels again I’m 2.6 so I’m shaking nearly crying to my manager because I’ve had so many hypos I have no treatment left and feel like **** ( everyone knows how much a hypo takes all your energy and I work with children so it doesn’t help) . She tells me I’m being dramatic and to go to the shop and come back to work to finish my shift. I had a further 5 hypos before I finished and was still not able to go home .
I’m not sure what to do as I feel like she doesn’t take this as seriously as it is .

She was the same when I was in dka when I first started she didn’t send me home to which I then spent 2 weeks in hospital

sounds like you may be running too close to the edge,maybe try to run a little higher than usual,or review your insulin intake.we are all different 1 size dont fit all.best wishes.